Dakota County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 36 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
There are 36 graded lakes in Dakota County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. On average, Dakota County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Holland Lake (A); the most-stressed is Thompson Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Dakota County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Holland Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (44)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Dakota County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ThompsonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ThomasFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SpringFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RogersFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — PickerelFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OrchardFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — McDonoughFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MarionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — LemayFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Lac LavonFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — KellerFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HollandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Dakota County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holland Lake | A | 27.9 ft | 55 ft | 20 µg/L |
| 2 | O'Brien Lake | B | 19.7 ft | - | 21 µg/L |
| 3 | Schultz Lake | B | 8.5 ft | - | 20 µg/L |
| 4 | Lac Lavon Lake | B | 12.8 ft | 32 ft | - |
| 5 | Sunfish Lake | B | 11.5 ft | - | 20 µg/L |
| 6 | Unnamed Lake | B | 6.9 ft | - | 25 µg/L |
| 7 | Lemay Lake | B | 6.9 ft | 15.5 ft | 27 µg/L |
| 8 | Blackhawk Lake | B | 6.9 ft | 12 ft | 25 µg/L |
| 9 | Carlson Lake | B | 8 ft | 19 ft | 26 µg/L |
| 10 | Mcdonough Lake | C | 9.8 ft | 13 ft | 25 µg/L |
| 11 | Jensen Lake | C | 5 ft | - | 23.5 µg/L |
| 12 | Marion Lake | C | 7 ft | 21 ft | - |
| 13 | Fish Lake | C | 6.9 ft | 33.5 ft | 36.5 µg/L |
| 14 | Crystal Lake | C | 7 ft | 37 ft | - |
| 15 | Thomas Lake | C | 5.6 ft | 8 ft | 25 µg/L |
| 16 | Pitts Lake | C | 4.9 ft | - | 43 µg/L |
| 17 | East Thomas Lake | C | 5.2 ft | 19 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 18 | Bald Lake | C | 4.9 ft | - | 44 µg/L |
| 19 | Keller Lake | C | 4.3 ft | 7 ft | 31.5 µg/L |
| 20 | Orchard Lake | C | 4.8 ft | 33 ft | 30 µg/L |
| 21 | Pickerel Lake | D | 3.6 ft | 11 ft | - |
| 22 | Bur Oaks Pond | D | 4.6 ft | 9 ft | 64 µg/L |
| 23 | Rogers Lake | D | 4 ft | 8 ft | - |
| 24 | Gerhardt Lake | D | 2.5 ft | - | 43 µg/L |
| 25 | Hilltop Pd Lake | D | 3.6 ft | 12 ft | 97 µg/L |
| 26 | Thompson Lake | F | 2.8 ft | 8 ft | - |
| 27 | Spring Lake | F | 2.1 ft | 17 ft | - |
| 28 | Chub Lake | F | 0.5 ft | 10 ft | - |
| 29 | Augusta Lake | F | - | - | 178 µg/L |
| 30 | O'Leary Lake | F | 2.6 ft | 33.5 ft | 153 µg/L |
| 31 | Unn Pond | F | 2 ft | - | 135 µg/L |
| 32 | Mccarthy Lake | F | 1 ft | 19 ft | 195 µg/L |
| 33 | Schmitt Lake | F | 3.3 ft | - | - |
| 34 | Quigley Lake | F | 2 ft | - | 141 µg/L |
| 35 | Byllesby Lake | F | 3 ft | 50 ft | 220 µg/L |
| 36 | Gun Club Lake | F | 2.8 ft | 9.5 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.